As the New Year festivities approach, irregular immigration networks intensify their maneuvers, seeking to take advantage of this favorable period to orchestrate vast migration attempts towards the neighboring shore. However, the Moroccan security system remains vigilant, ready to thwart these ambitions.
The New Year holidays represent a window of opportunity for irregular immigration networks, which seek to intensify their operations towards Europe. This festive period is often synonymous with an influx of irregular migrants ready to brave obstacles, including security measures, to realize their dream of a better life.
However, Morocco, aware of these issues, is strengthening its security measures in order to thwart the plans of those who try to exploit this situation. Indeed, dWell-informed sources have affirmed that the Moroccan authorities are putting in place reinforced security measures in the north of the Kingdom, in coordination with the Spanish authorities, to counter the increase in attempts at irregular immigration, particularly marked during this period of year.
Security authorities in both countries are now aware of these seasonal campaigns and are engaging in preventive actions. Furthermore, this proactive surveillance is carried out throughout the year, particularly in the enclaves of Sebta and Melilla, as well as in the Canary Islands, due to the numerous migratory flows heading towards these regions.
Recall that during the first nine months of 2024, units specialized in the fight against migrant smuggling managed to dismantle 210 criminal networks and foil 48,963 attempts at irregular migration, according to the report on the achievements of the year 2024 of the Ministry of the Interior.
At the same time, the Moroccan royal navy distinguished itself by its heroic intervention, saving 14,260 people from drowning during their perilous irregular crossings to the northern coasts of the Mediterranean and the Atlantic.
In collaboration with diplomatic representations in Morocco, 4,388 migrants were able to return safely to their country of origin, including 1,664 thanks to coordination with the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
However, despite the anticipation of an intensification of surveillance during this time of year, migrants are being seduced by social media campaigns which encourage them to come together with a view to orchestrating mass migration attempts, in order to to overcome all the obstacles that stand in their way.
According to the press release from the NGO Caminando Fronteras, more than 10,400 migrants died or disappeared at sea while trying to reach Spain from Morocco or Algeria during the year 2024. This figure is equivalent to an average of 30 people dying per day, between January and December 15 of this year.
